### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsaʻăqâh**, represented by `{{H6818}}`, is a term for a **shriek** or **cry(-ing)**. It appears 21 times across 20 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from the root `{{H6817}}` **tsâʻaq**, it often describes an urgent outcry in response to affliction, injustice, or impending judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H6818}}` is frequently used to describe a cry of distress that prompts divine intervention. This is seen when the Lord hears the **cry** of His people in Egypt due to their taskmasters [[Exodus 3:7]] and later when their **cry** from Philistine oppression comes to Him [[1 Samuel 9:16]]. The term also signifies a cry that accompanies judgment or destruction, such as the great **cry** against Sodom that came before the Lord [[Genesis 19:13]] and the great **cry** in Egypt during the plague of the firstborn [[Exodus 12:30]]. Furthermore, it can represent the sound of societal decay, where the Lord looks for righteousness but instead finds a **cry** of oppression [[Isaiah 5:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Hebrew words provide a broader context for different types of vocal outcry:
* `{{H6817}}` **tsâʻaq** (to shriek; ... cry out): This is the root verb from which `{{H6818}}` is derived, signifying the action of crying out. The Bible states that if the afflicted **cry** at all to the Lord, He will surely hear their cry [[Exodus 22:23]].
* `{{H3215}}` **yᵉlâlâh** (a howling): This word often appears alongside `{{H6818}}` to describe sounds of great distress and judgment. It is used for the **howling** from the second quarter of the city in conjunction with the **cry** from the fish gate [[Zephaniah 1:10]], and the **howling** of the flock's leaders is heard with the **cry** of the shepherds [[Jeremiah 25:36]].
* `{{H6963}}` **qôwl** (a voice or sound): A more general term for a voice or sound, this word can specify the **noise** of the **crying** [[1 Samuel 4:14]] or the **voice** of **crying** from a specific location [[Jeremiah 48:3]]. It also describes the **voice** of the Lord, which His people are called to obey [[1 Samuel 15:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6818}}` is significant, highlighting God's character and His relationship with humanity.
* **Divine Attention to Suffering:** The **cry** of the afflicted consistently captures God's attention. He hears Israel's **cry** and knows their sorrows [[Exodus 3:7]], and He "heareth the **cry** of the afflicted" [[Job 34:28]]. The Psalms affirm that God does not forget the **cry** of the humble [[Psalms 9:12]].
* **Catalyst for Judgment and Salvation:** The **cry** often acts as a trigger for God's action. Israel's **cry** leads God to send a savior to deliver them from the Philistines [[1 Samuel 9:16]]. Conversely, the wicked **cry** of Sodom results in its destruction [[Genesis 19:13]].
* **A Measure of Social Justice:** The presence of a **cry** can serve as a spiritual barometer for the state of a nation. When God looked for judgment and righteousness in Judah but instead found a **cry**, it signaled a failure of justice that demanded a response [[Isaiah 5:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6818}}` is more than a simple sound of distress. It is a biblically significant term that marks a critical moment demanding a response. It defines the outcry of the oppressed that reaches God's ear [[Exodus 3:9]], the sound of divine judgment upon wickedness [[Genesis 19:13]], and the personal anguish of an individual like Esau [[Genesis 27:34]]. This word demonstrates that a cry in scripture is never neutral; it is an event that prompts deliverance, signals judgment, and reveals the heart of God towards the humble and afflicted.
TRV